Business owners or managers often carp about not getting any help for their business. It’s a common theme that is often repeated in back offices, and at lunch counters and chamber of commerce mixers.

For those who have had those feelings, finally someone has done something about it. The state of Vermont, through the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, is kicking in $25,000 for a fall ad campaign with the Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce. It’s not a million-dollar campaign, but every little bit helps and we don’t know of anyone else spending 25 grand or more to market the valley.

There also a chance for those who see the value in the program to get involved. Local businesses can help stretch those dollars further by pitching in a little. Here’s one way to look at it. If 100 businesses pitched in 1% of the state contribution, $250, it would double the available dollars for the marketing campaign. If 200 businesses put up the 1%, it could triple the reach of the campaign.

Think of it as “the 1% solution.” Or perhaps “Occupy the Valley” might be a more timely slogan. Occupy the valley with increased visitors over the next few weeks.

A business doesn’t have to be a chamber member to benefit from the marketing campaign. More visitors to the valley means more business, pure and simple. Not everyone may benefit directly, but money does flow around the community.

Some chamber members say their dues should cover any marketing costs. But dues really just cover the operating costs of the chamber. Marketing contributions really are voluntary, or come from third-party partnerships like VDTM. The chamber has always operated on that premise.

Here’s a time when those voluntary contributions can make a big difference, and pay back local businesses many times over.

Remembering 9/11

Tuesday was the 11th anniversary of September 11, 2001. It’s important to continue to mark the date as a reminder of the terrible attacks that happened that day.

It’s also important to remind us that the next attack may be just around the corner. We certainly hope that’s not the case. But it’s hard not to think that somewhere out there something is being plotted.

Just look at what happened around the Middle East Tuesday: A United States ambassador and three others dead. We’re not sure what exactly motivated the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya: outrage over an ill-conceived video that mocked Islam, or possibly using the video’s reaction as a convenient cover for an attack that had previously been planned.

We must also be vigilant at home. As Tuesday’s assault so tragically underscores, there are homegrown extremists here in the United States as well, and their actions can have unforeseen consequences halfway around the world.

As we are so frequently reminded, there are still many strong reasons to remember 9/11, and more reasons to be wary.

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